The End of Memories (1)
“Don’t worry about me. I’m not the little tail that used to follow you around begging for candy anymore. If you want to go to Shanghai, go. I’m staying in Jiangcheng.”
In the end, Lin Jueshui couldn’t return to Shanghai. He couldn’t go back because of their father’s matter; the university made a decision to expel him.
Because of this, Lin Youyuan always felt a twinge of guilt towards him. It wasn’t until much later that he realized that Lin Jueshui’s decision to stay wasn’t because he couldn’t continue his studies or to accompany his only brother, but for another unspeakable reason.
Shortly after Lin Jueshui was imprisoned, his wealthy classmate found him.
“A formula for a life, it’s worth it, don’t you think? Research can always be redone, but if you’re gone, you’re really gone.”
Lin Jueshui, a chemical engineering graduate, certainly understood what he was talking about. That was his life’s work, his graduation project. If successful, the drug could save lives, but it could also harm countless people.
He gritted his teeth and said, “In your dreams.”
His classmate patted him on the shoulder through the bars and turned to leave. “It’s okay. I have plenty of time for you to think it over. But I wonder if your elderly father, your homeless mother, and your younger brother can wait.”
Usually gentle and refined, Lin Jueshui, eyes red with fury, lunged forward, stretching his arms through the bars and screaming.
A guard came over and struck him back with the rifle’s butt.
As he had said, his elderly parents indeed did not live to see the day he returned.
Lin Jueshui was too late when he burst out of his cell.
“The prisoner was accidentally hit on the head by a falling rock while doing labor reform and died despite rescue efforts.”
The doctor’s mouth moved as he spoke.
An old man, already in his sixties, was assigned to the heavy labor of mining in the dead of winter. This wasn’t labor reform; this was murder.
Lin Jueshui held his misshapen, now cold body and wailed in anguish.
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“Leave,” his classmate ordered.
“Yes.” The doctor respectfully bowed and turned to close the door.
The man handed over a set of keys. “The house is at 3 East Gate Street. The money has already been given to the driver; he’ll hand it over to you soon. Go see your brother.”
Lin Jueshui suddenly turned his head, gritting his teeth.
“What… what do you want the formula for?”
“Don’t worry about that. It’s a lucrative business. By the way, I’ll assign someone to ‘protect’ you. If anything special comes up during the preparation process, I’ll need your guidance.”
“Of course, at the time, I didn’t know he had already made a deal with drug dealers. Being my only relative in the world, I was naturally happy he could stay in Jiangcheng.”
After a brief period of grief and anger, Lin Jueshui’s presence even gave him a slight sense of home.
The two brothers drank and played games like they used to, getting along so well they could sleep in the same bed.
Su Yue, thinking that these two formerly pampered young masters couldn’t cook, often brought them food. Gradually, gatherings with Song Yiwu and others also shifted to the house at East Gate.
The deceased were gone, but the living still had to go on.
Lin Jueshui learned to cook, with Su Yue in the kitchen as the teacher and head chef, watching him cut chili peppers skillfully.
“I didn’t expect you to learn so quickly.”
Lin Jueshui put the chopped chili into a bowl. “If I learn, you won’t have to come as often, and Dayuan can have a hot meal when he gets back from work at night.”
Su Yue smiled. “You’re really good to him.”
Lin Jueshui smiled bitterly, picking up the oil can and pouring oil into the pan.
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“Is it this much? No choice, he’s my brother. With our parents gone, I have to take on more responsibility…”
Su Yue, adding firewood to the stove, stood up. “Hey, wait—”
Before she could finish, the wet pan sizzled with steam.
Lin Jueshui stepped back, his hand reddened. “Hiss…”
“Oh no!” Su Yue rushed over, grabbed his hand, and doused it with cold water.
Though older, Lin Jueshui had never frequented nightclubs, and this was the first time a girl had held his hand.
Su Yue, always warm-hearted, didn’t think much of it until their eyes met, and both blushed, releasing their grip quickly.
“S-sorry…”
Lin Jueshui smiled. The spot she touched was still hot.
“It’s fine, let’s continue.”
While they were cooking in the kitchen, Song Yiwu looked around the house, knocking on the beams.
“Wow, not bad. This house must have cost quite a bit. What does your brother do?”
Lin Jueshui opened a jar of wine, poured a bowl for him.
“He studied chemical engineering in college. Some company in Jiangcheng hired him as a technician despite everything. This house isn’t his; it’s borrowed from a classmate.”
Song Yiwu circled around and sat back at the table.
“That’s good. You two brothers can take care of each other.”
Lin Youyuan clinked his porcelain bowl with his. “Where’s Xiao Zhao? Why isn’t he here today?”
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Song Yiwu sipped his liquor, pursing his lips. “We got a report about suspicious people entering and exiting a house in the district, with a strong chemical smell. Xiao Zhao and the others are staking it out.”
Lin Youyuan frowned, about to speak when Su Yue and Lin Jueshui brought out the dishes.
Song Yiwu set down his wine bowl and prepared to leave.
Su Yue: “Yiwu, stay and eat something before you go.”
Song Yiwu smiled: “No, I still have tasks to do, I need to take over for Xiao Zhao.”
Lin Jueshui also said: “That’s right, no matter how busy work is, you still need to eat. During my absence, I really appreciate you all taking care of Dayuan. Try my cooking.”
But it was Lin Youyuan who wrapped his arm around his shoulder and led him outside: “Alright, you all eat first, I’ll walk Yiwu out.”
The summer in the southwest is often rainy.
The two walked out the door, and the sky started to drizzle again.
Lin Youyuan took an umbrella from the shadow of the gatehouse and handed it to him.
Song Yiwu stood under the rain with the umbrella, looking at him, his features more defined by the rainwater.
He lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled: “I said, now that you have a place to live, all you need is a proper job. Why not go back and take the university entrance exam again? Hurry up, a good girl like Yueyue, you better not…”
Lin Youyuan spat at him: “Enough, enough. How can a guy like you, over six feet tall, be more nagging than a matchmaker? Get lost.”
Song Yiwu waved and left. Fortunately, he arrived in time that night, as Zhao Junfeng and two other colleagues who were staking out had their cover blown and were heavily retaliated against by criminals, resulting in serious injuries.
The next time Lin Youyuan saw Zhao Junfeng was in the hospital.
Su Yue was giving him an injection. Seeing him come in, Zhao Junfeng struggled to lift his body: “Xiao… Brother Lin.”
Lin Youyuan pressed him down: “F*ck, don’t move. Who beat you this badly, I…”
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Song Yiwu pulled him up: “Let’s talk outside, let Xiao Feng rest.”
They walked to a quiet corridor.
Song Yiwu lit a cigarette, frowning.
“The fact that he was staking out was only known by me and a few key leaders in the team.”
Lin Youyuan’s eyes turned red, his fists clenched with cracking sounds: “Who the hell is so despicable?”
Song Yiwu shook his head: “This is not just a despicable act, this is serious. Xiao Feng risked his life to bring back a bag of white powder with very high purity. I must personally catch these people and bring them to justice.”
Thinking of Zhao Junfeng lying immobile in bed, Lin Youyuan gritted his teeth: “I’ll gather some information over the next few days.”
Song Yiwu patted his shoulder: “Thank you for your hard work. When this matter is over, I’ll definitely apply to the higher-ups to formally…”
Lin Youyuan smiled and shrugged off his hand.
“Forget it, I don’t care about that. I just want to avenge my good brother. He can’t suffer such a serious injury for nothing.”
After everyone left, Su Yue finished giving the injection and was about to leave. She gently tucked his hand under the blanket.
“You won’t let us tell your parents about such a serious injury. I’ll bring some chicken soup tonight to help you replenish your nutrition.”
Su Yue was genuinely good-hearted, truly kind, warm, and cheerful. Zhao Junfeng, although he called her Yueyue, always regarded her as a sister.
His eyes warmed, and he nodded lightly.
After Su Yue tucked him in, she left.
Zhao Junfeng, however, couldn’t sleep, staring at the ceiling, those words repeatedly echoing in his ears.
The opponent had viciously kicked him in the ribs.
LP: I have a feeling that Su Yue is Mother Lin… Lin Ge’s mom (⊙_☉)